With non-traditional grocery channels ramping up their food and beverage selections, traditional formats such as supermarkets are turning their attention to price gaps and promotions to help level the playing field, analysts report.
The grocery store segment consists of equal parts of decline and optimism. According to a grocery store retailing study published in July 2010 by Chicago-based Mintel International Group, the grocery products market grew by just 0.6 percent in food, drug and mass merchandise outlets. This market includes bakery, dairy, deli, edible, frozen foods and drinks, general merchandise, health and beauty items, and non-edible products, but excluding alcohol beverages.